In a highly physical game, three well-placed shots by the Albert Lea Tigers were the difference in a 3-2 win against Austin at Wescott Field.

Friday, September 17, 1999

In a highly physical game, three well-placed shots by the Albert Lea Tigers were the difference in a 3-2 win against Austin at Wescott Field.

The loss broke Austin’s (4-2-1, 3-2-1) four-game winning streak. The win was Albert Lea’s (1-3, 1-2) first of the year.

While the Albert Lea goals were big plays, the biggest play of the night and maybe Austin’s season, occurred just before halftime when Sarah Huffer and Kim DeYoung were battling for the ball at midfield. Austin was behind 1-0 at the time.

With less than four minutes remaining in the half, Huffer was just about to break free from DeYoung when they smashed into each other. Huffer was on the ground for about 10 minutes before she gingerly got up with an ace bandage wrapped around her torso and left arm. She was whisked to the hospital where it was learned that she broke her collarbone and will be out for the next four to six weeks.

Albert Lea was aggressive in its play throughout the game and would not hesitate in going for the ball.

"We let down after the injury until halftime," Austin coach David Ingalls said. "We picked things up in the second half. Bridget Burzinski came in for Huffer and did a good job at midfield and Laura Nace also stepped up did a good job there."

The letdown resulted in the second goal of the game for Albert Lea. The Tigers’ first goal came off the foot of Amy Ravenhorst with 14 minutes left in the half.

The second goal was almost a mirror image of the first. This time it came off the foot of Kristin Kyllo.

Austin went out in the second half with renewed vigor. Two hard fouls by the Packers resulted in two Tigers hurt and not returning to the game. One foul may have resulted in a broken nose.

"We were pretty into the game and pumped up," Austin forward Katy McClain said.

"It was a tough game," Ingalls said. "The girls did well. I don’t like to see such a rough game."

Austin finally got the ball past Albert Lea’s goalie due to the persistence of Jamie Nieland.

Nieland’s hard work was wiped out moment’s latter. On a direct free kick from over 30 yards out sweeper Megan Levisen struck home the third perfect shot of the game for Albert Lea. Austin goalkeeper Kellie Peterson had no chance to make the save as the ball scooted right under the bar and into the net.

For the rest of the game Austin kept on increasing the offensive pressure. The Packers second goal came 10 minutes after Levisen’s. Nieland hit a cross that went right to the foot of McClain. McClain then volleyed the ball home from eight yards out.

Austin next travels to Rochester next Tuesday to play John Marshall.